Jackson and Co. | Milwaukee Advertising and Commercial Photography | David E. Jackson | Full-service Commercial and Advertising Photography, Video Studio in Appleton, Wisconsin | Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Chicago, Wisconsin PhotographyMilwaukee Commercial and Advertising Photography, Video and Retouching in Wisconsin | Milwaukee | Chicago | Wisconsin Commercial Photography2017-09-26T15:47:38Zhttp://davidejackson.com/feed/atomWordPressdavidejacksonhttp://davidejackson.comhttp://davidejackson.com/?p=67822017-03-10T16:44:24Z2017-03-10T16:35:56ZLast November we traveled to sunny Chula Vista, CA to work with the Jamison Advertising Group shooting a print campaign for EastLake Church; The Cannonball Initiative. The campaign itself is an internal fundraising initiative and was based around the idea of going “all in” to help make community improvements over the course of the next […]

]]>Last November we traveled to sunny Chula Vista, CA to work with the Jamison Advertising Group shooting a print campaign for EastLake Church; The Cannonball Initiative. The campaign itself is an internal fundraising initiative and was based around the idea of going “all in” to help make community improvements over the course of the next ten years. The concept revolved around the idea of real people, families and couples telling their stories and needed to showcase them jumping in the water with total abandon. We needed to shoot actual church members, doing cannonballs in a swimming pool, shot from various overhead angles and from an underwater perspective.

The concept was fun, yet challenging and allowed our team to step into some new photographic territory. We spent three full days in California in production and walked away with some great content for our client! Below is a look at the final images in the layout for the campaign.

Below is the print layout installed on the front entrance of EastLake Church. Massive!

Below is our location in sunny Chula Vista California at the city’s public pool. Temperatures in the 70’s & 80’s in November are nothing to complain about.

To get the images needed for the campaign, we shot with an underwater housing for our 5DS R rented from our friends at LensPro ToGo. There is a learning curve to using the cumbersome housing, but with some great tutorials on their site, we were up and running in no time!

Our small production area on-location.

To get the results below, we had to rely on compositing 3 or 4 images together for the final product.

Having spent one full day testing on location prior to bringing in our talent, we soon discovered that when our subject jumped in the water we lost all detail in their expressions due to the amount of bubbles surrounding them. We used the surrounding bubbles from our test shots, blank plates of the pool underwater and our talent submerged in “suspension” to piece the final composite together.

The overhead splash shots were also created from a composite. We spent a portion of the pre-production day shooting the water plates and splashes from overhead, dropping a brick into the water to get the needed elements.

On our third day on set we shot the talent in a local park. We shot our subjects from overhead, laying on a white sheet. The trick was to get the pose and expression right to be believable enough to drop into our scenes.

]]>0davidejacksonhttp://davidejackson.comhttp://davidejackson.com/?p=66512017-01-12T19:50:05Z2017-01-12T19:50:05ZWith a little hard work, persistence and dedication, everything comes full circle and opportunities will eventually present themselves. I’ve worked in the music industry, photographing bands large and small, on and off for the better part of 18 years now. Although this type of work is not at the very forefront of my portfolio/brand, I […]

]]>With a little hard work, persistence and dedication, everything comes full circle and opportunities will eventually present themselves.

I’ve worked in the music industry, photographing bands large and small, on and off for the better part of 18 years now. Although this type of work is not at the very forefront of my portfolio/brand, I still love working with musicians, bands and artists to this day, having been an avid heavy metal music fan since I was a kid. The music industry is an interesting beast and I’ve discovered through the years that, like most clients, it really seems to be driven by the development of relationships and creating the best possible work that stays at the forefront of the game. Having worked with countless bands and record labels over the years, I have learned a ton, gained some valuable production experience and have made some life long friendships I never thought would have been possible.

For those who know me well, I’ve been a huge fan of the band Norma Jean since their 2002 debut release, Bless The Martyr and Kiss the Child. It was an album that stuck with me for years and carried me through many difficult and challenging times throughout the past decade. As their discography grew through the years, amidst line-up changes and an ever-evolving industry, the band has remained at the top of my list of favorite bands.

In 2013, I reached out to the guys in Norma Jean through their record label at the time to see if I could shoot some portraits of them while they made a tour stop in Milwaukee. I was able to work with them for about 30 minutes before their show and quickly developed a relationship with them. I was a major fanboy, full of nervousness and awkward conversation. But I was able to shoot some photos and kept in contact with them through social media over the next couple of years.

In January of 2016, I received an email from Cory of Norma Jean in which he asked if I would be interested in traveling to Pachyderm Studio in Cannon Falls, MN where they were recording their next album and to shoot some promo photos for them. As a longtime fan, the answer was obvious.

Pachyderm is a renowned recording studio located outside of Minneapolis in a small town, best known for where Nirvana recorded In Utero, Throwing Copper from Live and Failure’s Comfort. Both incredible bands and killer records. Over the years, Pachyderm changed hands in ownership and was left abandoned in ruins and became home to squatters. The studio was then purchased out of foreclosure in 2011 and completely renovated to the exact condition at its inception.

In our early conversations leading up to our wintery trip to Pachyderm to work with Norma Jean, we decided that we would also shoot some video webisodes for the band along with the promo photos, to be released leading up the albums debut. We spent five days embedded with the band in the studio, shooting and filming some of the recording process. We quickly learned that we had shot enough content to create a documentary about the recording process of the album. The days were long, 10-12 hours. But the end result went hand-in-hand with the vibe and emotional intensity of Polar Similar.

Going into this project somewhat blindly, turned into one of the most incredible and memorable experiences Adam and I shared last year. Having spent a week with the band and production team, we walked away with great new friends and unforgettable memories. Everything about our experience at Pachyderm, from witnessing the recording process of Polar Similar to making new relationships and having some of our little influences shine through on the final album, was all I could ever ask for. We’re really proud of this project and are thankful for this time spent with great people.

And besides that, it’s the best Norma Jean record ever released and my favorite album of 2016. Check out the full 45 minute documentary below!

]]>0davidejacksonhttp://davidejackson.comhttp://davidejackson.com/?p=65852016-10-18T20:40:12Z2016-10-18T17:50:31ZThis past June we were commissioned by Jamison Advertising Group in Chula Vista, CA to create a series of two images for EastLake Church to be included in their 2016 print mailer campaign. The two concepts we were given needed to showcase dynamic imagery that centered around two ideas; A stressed mom and the “nuclear […]

]]>This past June we were commissioned by Jamison Advertising Group in Chula Vista, CA to create a series of two images for EastLake Church to be included in their 2016 print mailer campaign. The two concepts we were given needed to showcase dynamic imagery that centered around two ideas; A stressed mom and the “nuclear family”. When we discussed the creative ideas with the agency and the client I knew we could bring something fun and exciting to the table. We were able to source locations and talent from friends and family, allowing us some room to get pretty artistic and fairly intricate with the overall concepts. Below is a look at the final work and a few notes on the process. Enjoy!

Here is the final “stressed mom” photo from our first set-up. The final ad needed to portray a sense of chaos that prevails in many households, especially mine. We used my kitchen as the scene for the shoot and wanted to showcase a breakfast scene with the kids being extremely messy, yet fun-loving and a rather unruly dog. We composited the final image together from five separate shots. Shadow, our puppy, was the final “cherry on top” as we allowed her to eat some Fruit Loops off the table. There were so many moving parts to this shot, we needed to shoot it in various segments to create the final look and feel we were after. Have a peak below:

BELOW: A closer look at the detail of the final composite. As a note, these files were shot on the Sony A7r II at 50mp. We are continually impressed with the image quality with this camera. My opinion is that it’s as close as you can get to a medium format digital camera in a prosumer body.

BELOW: Take a peak at the images we shot to create the composite and a peak at the retouching process:

Below is the second image in the series we shot for EastLake Church. The theme was “Thermonuclear Family” and needed to portray a 1950/60’s Cold War vibe of a “nuclear” family sharing time together in the evening. Every detail needed to be perfect and as time-period specific as possible. We shot this here in Appleton at a friends house, which when we walked in to the place, was absolutely amazing. Nothing needed to be changed at all. Location and set design can truly make or break a photo. We shot this ad in mid-morning and it took us about two hours to light and shoot though to completion. Lighting was critical here, as we needed to showcase that warm evening vibe. Have a look below!

BELOW: A closer look at the detail of the final composite. Again, these were shot on the Sony A7r II.

]]>0davidejacksonhttp://davidejackson.comhttp://davidejackson.com/?p=63862016-09-22T19:52:16Z2016-09-22T14:57:05ZWe all know Wisconsin is known for it’s farming communities, rich land for crop growth and vast dairy cow operations. But perhaps a little lesser known agricultural aspect of our state, is that Wisconsin produces the most ginseng found in the United States. Climate, soil quality and the geography in Wisconsin make ginseng growth and […]

]]>We all know Wisconsin is known for it’s farming communities, rich land for crop growth and vast dairy cow operations. But perhaps a little lesser known agricultural aspect of our state, is that Wisconsin produces the most ginseng found in the United States. Climate, soil quality and the geography in Wisconsin make ginseng growth and production ideal for producers in the nation. Ginseng farming has developed substantially over the years, with farms becoming more automated and technologically advanced. Buyers from many foreign markets have created huge demand for ginseng roots in recent years, primarily for it’s all-natural health benefits as a dietary supplement and use in eastern medicine.

The largest producer of ginseng roots in the United States is Baumann Farms, located in Wausau, WI. Our team was brought on a project late last fall to document their production process and facilities to be implemented in marketing materials and boost their worldwide brand. We traveled to one of Baumann Farms many ginseng gardens and production facilities to shoot the operation from beginning to end.

Baumann Farms is a family owned and operated business, which has been in the family for many decades. The family prides themselves on this fact and they are very hands-on in all aspects of the production. Young and old, they have weathered some tough years through hard work and dedication to make them the largest and ever-expanding ginseng farm in the country.

Most mornings in the ginseng gardens begin at 5am. The weather is typically cool and rainy in early fall and the workers come prepared for the day.

The ginseng roots are harvested from the ground and the soil is turned loose/sifted in rows. The workers then rake each row of roots by hand to prepare for collection.

Kraig Baumann and his son walk the rows to inspect the quality of the roots from each field.

Kurt Baumann takes time to talk to us about the ginseng harvest.

This year had an especially good crop, based off the size of the roots. Ginseng has high value in foreign markets. Some years, better than others.. but this year yielded great results.

Baumann Farms employs many migrant workers from Mexico, many of which have been with the farm for several years.

The collection process begins.

Wisconsin’s climate, soil quality and the geography make ginseng growth and production ideal for producers.

The Baumann family prides itself on being a family owned and operated farm. Kraig’s son will someday take over the farm.

Baumann Farms also employs a large group of Hmong workers to help during the harvest season. The workers are like family to the Baumann’s and are treated exceptionally well, many being housed on their property throughout the year. They work long hours ever day, but constantly show an incredible work ethic. The ginseng roots are all collected by hand, placed into 5 gallon buckets to be loaded into wooden boxes.

Once the wooden transport boxes are filled, they are loaded onto a flatbed semi trailer and transported to the processing facility several miles away.

Here is a portrait of Alex, a veteran foreman for 12 years at Baumann Farms in Wausau, WI. He has been traveling to the United States from Mexico every year and has risen up the ranks on the farm putting in 12-16 hour days managing a huge crew. Baumann Farms is the largest producer of Ginseng in the US.

The ginseng root arrives at the Baumann Farms production facility in Wausau, WI. They are stored in a state-of-the-art refrigeration warehouse, kept at a consistent 38 degrees before they get processed.

Processing begins at Baumann Farms. The roots are loaded onto a conveyer belt and washed. Some of the equipment inside their facility has been homemade and hand-engineered to fit the Baumann’s specific process of curing/preparing the ginseng.

Once washed, the roots are moved to a secondary station where they are sorted by hand for quality assurance purposes. At this stage, the workers remove any bad produce from the initial sort. The ginseng is then placed back into wire-bottomed wooden boxes for drying.

Kurt Baumann takes a moment to inspect the quality of roots from the harvest.

The cleaned and sorted ginseng roots are placed in drying kilns for several days. Baumann Farms has a state-of-the-art facility, including a computerized system for temperature control during the drying process.

Once dry, the roots are re-sorted, sifted to remove excess root shag and packaged for shipping. Ginseng wholesalers and buyer from around the world travel to Baumann Farms to inspect the final product.

A harvest from a single garden can be worth a few million dollars. This rare/enormous root alone, displayed here by Kurt Baumann, can be valued in excess of $10,000 by itself.

Portrait of Jerry Baumann, original founder of Baumann Farms in Wausau, WI.

Portrait of Kurt Baumann, co-owner of Baumann Farms in Wausau, WI.

Portrait of Kraig Baumann, co-owner of Baumann Farms in Wausau, WI. Baumann Farms is the largest producer of Ginseng in the US.

Portrait of the Baumann family, three generations of ginseng farmers.. past, present and future.

]]>0davidejacksonhttp://davidejackson.comhttp://davidejackson.com/?p=63642016-09-21T20:45:58Z2016-09-21T18:41:11ZHere is a look at the work we shot over the past year for Miron Construction. We partnered with Miron to create a series of photo composites to be implemented in their “We Built This” print campaign. Along with the ad layouts, we also shot a a series of accompanying architectural photos. Have a look […]

]]>Here is a look at the work we shot over the past year for Miron Construction. We partnered with Miron to create a series of photo composites to be implemented in their “We Built This” print campaign. Along with the ad layouts, we also shot a a series of accompanying architectural photos. Have a look below!

]]>2davidejacksonhttp://davidejackson.comhttp://davidejackson.com/?p=63422016-06-09T20:05:13Z2016-06-09T20:05:13ZThis past December we kicked off a large print and video campaign with Jamison Advertising Group for their client, AIG Advisor Group. The project featured four leading financial advisors from around the United States, showcasing their respective firms by highlighting each of the advisors unique stories and backgrounds. Each advisor traveled to Appleton and we […]

]]>This past December we kicked off a large print and video campaign with Jamison Advertising Group for their client, AIG Advisor Group. The project featured four leading financial advisors from around the United States, showcasing their respective firms by highlighting each of the advisors unique stories and backgrounds. Each advisor traveled to Appleton and we shot of the course of a full week in-studio and on-location. Thankfully, our Wisconsin winter weather held off long enough to see the project come together flawlessly! Below is the final content, along with some fun behind-the-scene peaks.

]]>0davidejacksonhttp://davidejackson.comhttp://davidejackson.com/?p=62732016-02-12T16:49:22Z2016-02-12T16:49:22ZIn the midst of a trip to Bermuda last summer and a crazy summer workload, we received a call to shoot a series of print ads for Cars.com. We traveled to Chicago for two days to shoot along side a video production team to create ad content that paired up with four corresponding web videos. […]

]]>In the midst of a trip to Bermuda last summer and a crazy summer workload, we received a call to shoot a series of print ads for Cars.com. We traveled to Chicago for two days to shoot along side a video production team to create ad content that paired up with four corresponding web videos. Although we didn’t have our hands in the video production, we were able to shoot still images for ads that complimented the video spots. We worked with a great team at gyro Chicago and had a blast working on-location both days. Below is a look at the final ads and the elements that went into creating the composites. All retouching was handled by Filtre Studio in Chicago. Huge thanks go out to the project producer Dan O’Donnell, the creative team at gyro Chicago, ONE at Optimus and Scott Marvel from Daily Planet!

As you can see below, the majority of elements of each image were shot separately from one another and composited together to create the final layout. Here are a few peaks behind the scenes of the shoot:

Although we did not shoot the corresponding video treatments (directed by Michael Chaves with ONE at Optimus) you can see them here:

]]>1davidejacksonhttp://davidejackson.comhttp://davidejackson.com/?p=61642015-10-21T14:57:43Z2015-10-21T14:51:24ZLast month we spent the better part of two days shooting lifestyle and product photography in Milwaukee’s Third Ward for Case Station, a UK based client that produces custom-printable smartphone cases. This company is relatively new, but have gained fantastic traction here in the U.S. market. All of this work and more will be appearing […]

]]>Last month we spent the better part of two days shooting lifestyle and product photography in Milwaukee’s Third Ward for Case Station, a UK based client that produces custom-printable smartphone cases. This company is relatively new, but have gained fantastic traction here in the U.S. market. All of this work and more will be appearing on Case Station’s website and in print around the US and abroad! Below are a handful of images from the shoot and some tears pulled from their website.

]]>0davidejacksonhttp://davidejackson.comhttp://davidejackson.com/?p=61042015-10-16T16:04:36Z2015-10-16T16:04:36ZFor those local to the Fox Valley and northeast Wisconsin, it’s no secret that Mile of Music is one of the, if not the biggest, musical event to hit our state drawing hundreds of musicians/artists and thousands in attendance. And it’s getting larger and wildly more popular each passing year. This year’s Mile was the […]

]]>For those local to the Fox Valley and northeast Wisconsin, it’s no secret that Mile of Music is one of the, if not the biggest, musical event to hit our state drawing hundreds of musicians/artists and thousands in attendance. And it’s getting larger and wildly more popular each passing year. This year’s Mile was the third edition of the event and the second that I was able to attend. For the past two years we’ve partnered up with John Adam’s pop-up art gallery Feather & Bone and set up shop in his space to shoot portraits of musicians throughout the four-day weekend. This has been nothing more than a personal project of sorts for me in which I provide as a cost-free service to the artists, allowing them to use the photos as they see fit. Given our workload this year, it was super refreshing to get back to the roots of creativity, pursuing the human spirit with photography.

]]>0davidejacksonhttp://davidejackson.comhttp://davidejackson.com/?p=60622015-10-01T19:55:11Z2015-10-01T19:45:42ZThis past spring we teamed up with the creative team at GMR Marketing to shoot a series of ads for Majestic Athletic, the official on-field jersey provider of Major League Baseball. The shoot was for ad placement for Majestic’s “Jersey Day Fan Battle” promotion and saw wide usage for web, social media, in-store displays, print […]

]]>This past spring we teamed up with the creative team at GMR Marketing to shoot a series of ads for Majestic Athletic, the official on-field jersey provider of Major League Baseball. The shoot was for ad placement for Majestic’s “Jersey Day Fan Battle” promotion and saw wide usage for web, social media, in-store displays, print and product integration. We set-up shop at GMR’s new production studio in New Berlin for a day and shot 30+ people wearing all of Majestic’s MLB jersey to create the final series of images. You can read more about GMR’s involvement with the project here at their blog. Below are a handful of the final layouts!